Couple Safe But Fire Destroys Home In Butler County

CALLERY BOROUGH (KDKA) — An overnight fire in Butler County that left a couple homeless and killed one of their pets has been ruled accidental.

According to the state police fire marshal, the Callery Fire Department is blaming the blaze on a cord to a window air conditioning unit.

Ed and Judy Conway lost their house in the fire. Ed says his wife has struggled, but survived, several recent health issues, including cancer, and now this.

“I just think about all that she’s been through,” said Conway. “She is a real fighter.”

Conway is president of the Callery Borough Council, and Judy is also a council member. This morning, the community showed a massive amount of support for them.

“They showed up in pours today,” he said.

The fire started in the back of the house around 4 a.m. Judy woke up and saw the tube to her oxygen smoking and screamed for her husband. Ed tried to put out the fire but it was too late.

“By the time I got her out of there and turned around, the smoke was starting to get to us,” said Conway. “We would have died from the smoke pretty quick had she not… I still don’t know what woke her up.”

The couple’s dog was rescued from the fire; however, they did lose their pet parrot.

Pittsburgh native Heather Abraham joined KDKA in December 2010.
Heather is an award winning journalist. She was nominated for several Emmy's , including for a deeper look into the work of the Pittsburgh Police Vice Squad.
Heather has als...